When I was younger, I was always envious of the people who had beautifully tanned skin. I wanted it. I tried a few times to get that beautiful honey colored skin that everyone seemed so fond of. I tried laying in the sun, and I tried fake-baking, but either burned or came away with very little. I then tried the tanning lotions, but they turned me orangeish and were a lot of upkeep.

When I was in England, and my husband went away on his various TDY’s and deployments I started watching ‘Top Model’. I loved to see the artistic photos that were taken. Some of my favorites were of pale girls. I guess that’s when I realized that being pale isn’t a bad thing. In fact, I started to think that pale skin was beautiful in it’s own ethereal way.

Even though I moved back to America, where I could easily run outside to soak up some sun or slink into a tanning bed, I decided that I was never again going to try to bronze myself up. I don’t need skin cancer. I don’t want leathery looking skin when I’m older.

I’m pale. It works for me, and it’s beautiful. 22 months ago